Wood-sawing machine



1. E. ELDER.

WOOD SAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.17,1921.

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J. E. ELDER.

WOOD SAWING MACHINE.

APmcATloN man MN. 11, |921. 1,420,950. Patented June 27, 1922.

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WOOD SAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.17,1921.

1,420,950.. Patented June 27, 1,922.

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WOOD SAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.17. 19.21.

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APPUCATION FILED 1AN17| 1921.

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Patented June 27, 1922.

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Patented June 2 7, 1922.

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APPLICATION HLED 1AN.17, 1921.

1 ,420,950. Patented June 27, 1922.

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WOOD SAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FiLED 1AN.|1, 1921.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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WOOD SAWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.17, 1921.

PatentedJlme 27, 192.2'.

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11E- Ei aune/wko@ JAMES EDWIN ELDER, 0E nrer-rWoonfMoNfrANjA.

d WOOD-SAWING: lVLACI-INE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ,June 27,"

Application led January' 17, 1921. SeriaLNo. 437,863.

.To all yti/tcm t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. ELDER, a

citizen oi the United States, residing at Highwood, in the county ot' Choteau and State ot Montana, have invented certain new and usetul improvements in lVoodtawing lvlaehincs; and l do declare the tollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its principal object to provide a highly etlioient and reliable machine tor sawing wood in practically any desired manner, and for splitting blocks of wood either while they are lying horizontally or when standing` on end. In carrying out this end, i mount sawing mechanism on one end ot a horizontal base trame, carry the splitting mechanism by the other end of said iti-ame, and mount a motor on the frame between the two mechanisms, for driving either ot' them at will. lhen either sawing logs into lengths appropriate for handling in a saw-mill, or when splitting blocks ot wood lying on the ground, after they have been sawed trom a felled tree, it is necessary to adjust the entire machine along the work, and a further object ot my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of wheels which are normally idle, but which can be brought into play to support the 'weight of the entire machine and thus permit it to be readily moved along` a log or the like.

fr turther object ot the invention is to provide a sawing mechanism which may be used to equal advantage for telling trees or vtor sawing telled trees or logs into any desired lengths. and one which may also be used ttor cutting comparatively small wood, such as tour toot cord wood into stove lengths.

lilith. the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction and combination ot parts hereinatter described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and av topplan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, the splitting mechanism being detached while the machine is used forsawinghorizontal logs.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation off the sawingl mechanism andi, the adjacent parts of the mainframe. i

Figure 4L is a, vertical transverse sectional view as indicated byline t-lof Fig. 3.

Figure 5 isa detail-vertical section, partly in elevation, showingl more particularly the means for adjustingl the saw frame.

Figure 6 is avhorizontal sectional view through the sawing ymechanism showing. a top plan view ot theadjacent` frame structure, showing the relation of parts when the main base frame rests onL a horizontal. log for use.

Figure 7 is a view similarvr to Fig. 6, but

Vshowing the relative positions of partswheny the supporting wheelsfare brought intoy play to permit the machine to be shifted;- along a log.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional viewfas.

indicated byline 8 8 of ig. 7.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the sawing mechanism detached from the remainder of. the machine.

Figure 10 is a vertical. sectional view as indicated by line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a detail horizontal sectional view as designated by line 1111 of Fig. 9.

Figures 12 and 13 are respectively a top plan and a side elevation showing the manner of using the machine for felling trees.`

Figure 14 isa side elevation illustrating.r

the way in which the sawingr mechanism may be used in connection with acarriage 'for sawing wood into stove lengths.

Figure 15 is a plan viewy of one form of splitting mechanism and the adjacent parts ot the trame structure.

Figure 16 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 15.

Figure 17 is a horizontal sectional view on line 17--17of Fig. 16.

Figure 18 is a central vertical sectional view of the splitting mechanism shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17.

'Figure 19 is an elevation of the splitting mechanism above mentioned.

Figure 2O is a detail transverse section on line 20-20 of Fig. 18.

Figures 21 and 22 are respectively a side elevation and an end view ot the form of splitting mechanism used when the blocks or" wood stand on end.

Figure 23 is ak horizontal sectional view as designated by line 23)#23 of Fig. 21.

Figure 2-1 is a vertical sectional view ot the splitting mechanism shown in Figs. 21, 22 and 23.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary elevation showing more particularly some of the controlling parts for the splitting maul.

1n carrying out my invention, l provide a horizontally elongated main supporting frame or base F, mount a sawing mechanism M at one end ot' said trame, provide a splitting mechanism at the other end thereoit, and mount a suitable motor or engine E on the trame between the two mechanisms, for driving either ot them as required.

The trame F includes a pair ot parallel side bars 1 which are rigidly connected at each end by a transverse relatively short bar 2 and a longer transverse bar 3, the two being spaced apart as shown for instance in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. Appropriate vertically adjustable legs et are hinged at 5 to the ends ot the bars 3 and any suitable locking means 6 may be employed for holding said legs at the most desirable angles with respect to said bars,` and it will be obvious that the lengths of said legs may also be varied as required to meet conditions.

Slidable between the bars 2 and 3 at each end of the machine, are two transverse bars 7 and 8 which rest on the side bars 1 and are held in proper relation by strap irons or the like 9 as shown 'for instance in Figs. 6 and 7. At one end, each ot the bars 7 and 8, carries a depending arm 10 pivoted thereto at 11 and provided on its lower end with a log engaging wheel 12, the arrangement being such that the arms 10 at each end ot' the machine straddle the upper portion or the log as shown for instance in el., coiled springs or the like 13 being connected with said arms for swinging them inwardly into downwardly converging relation and holding their wheels 12 in contact with the log as shown in Fig. Ll. lllhen the 'arms 10 stand in this manner, the sidc bars 1 ot the trame rest on the log as shown and said 'trame may then be steadied, not onliY by the legs It, but by log engaginfY hooks 1% which are carried by the ends or the bars 7 and 8, opposite the arms 10. make provision for oppositely shitting the bars 7 and 8 so that the arms 10 will be brought to the vertical positions shown in Fig. 5% thereby lifting the side bars 1 ot' the trame entirely from the log so that the entire inachine may be shifted along said log as necessary. Since the hooks 141- are carried by the abovementioned bars 7 and S. these hooks are loosened by shitting of said bars in the manner specified.

Any appropriate means may be employed tor slidingl the bars 7 and S as required, but .l have shown a pair of levers 15 ior this purpose, one lever being located at each end ot the machine. These levers may well be tulcrumed on one ot the strap irons 9 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and said levers are connected with the bars 7 and 8 by oppositely extending links 16. It thus iollows that when either ot the levers is shifted, the bars connected therewith will be moved in opposite directions. Any appropriate racks or the like 17 may be utilized for the purpose ot securing the levers 15 in adjusted positions.

The construction or' the sawing mechanism is disclosed clearly in Figs. 3 to 10 and these figures illustrate such sawing mechanism in use tor sawing logs, while Figs. 12, 13 and 1-1- show other uses ot' the mechanism in question. An arched saw carrying trame 2O is provided, which is preferably formed ot' a single metal bar ot hollow construction, the vertical arms 21 ot' said arched iframe being provided with vertical tracks 22 which are receivable in channeled tracks 2B carried by the 'traine F, said channeled tracks being hinged to one ot the bars 3 so that they swing into right angular relation with the .trame as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 11, etc., or may swing downwardly into parallel relation with said trame as depicted in Fig. 13. The machine may thus be used for cutting either horizontal logs or growing trees. For ladjusting the tracks 22 within the fixed tracks 223 and consequently for adjusting the Ylrame 2O to teed the saw are gears 2-it mounted on a shaft 25 carried by the tracks 23, said gears meshing with appropriate teeth 26 with which tracks 22 are provided (see Fig. ln the present showing. the gears 2L are mounted in the fixed tracks 2-3/but this arrangement need not be followed in all instances. rEhe tree ends of the arms 21 oi" the iframe 20, are preferably curved outwardly in opposite directions as shown at 27 in e, 8 and 9, and these outwardly turned ends are preferably braced by suitable plates 28 extending therefrom to the body portions oi said arms. carry adjustable bearings 29 tor a pair of saw guiding wheels 30 which co-operate with a third wheel 31 in guiding a chain saw 32 ot any suitable construction. rilhe wheel 3l. serves to drive the saw 32 and said wheel is preferably located at the crown ot the arched 'frame 2G, being here shown provided with a shaft 33 rotatably mounted in appropriate bearing plates 34 carried by said trarne. cured 'to the shaft at the inner side of the frame 2O and a pair of friction wheels 36 and 37 are mounted on one ot the plates 34 in contact with said wheel 35, said wheels 36 and 37 having a` horizontal stub shaft 36 These plates 7" A beveled friction wheel is seand a vertical stub shaft respectively. When the frame 20-is used vertically, the stub shaft 36 is driven from the motor E by means of an appropriate telescopic and flexible shaft 38, but When the saiv is used horizontally as depicted in Figs. 12 and 13, the stub shaft 37 is driven. in either case, the Wheel 31 isrotated to drive the saw 32.

if desired, the entire sawing mechanism M may be removed from the frame F and suitably supported on a frame F so that the sa\v 32 will be vertically disposed for sawing Wood int-o stove lengths. The frame F is supported on suitable legs 4" and is provided With an engine F/ for driving the mechanism M. suitable rolling carriage 40 is mounted on the frame F for feeding the wood to the saw. y

At the end of the frame F Which carries the splitting` mechanism, the side bars l extend beyond the cross bar 3 as shown for instance in Figures 15, 16 and 18. rlhese projecting' bar ends are provided with a pair l of transverse tracks 41 which support a plate or platform 42 so that it may be adjusted transversely of the frame F, suitable means 43 being employed for securing said platform in any position to which it may be adjusted. A pair of L-shaped standards 44 are secured to the platform 42 and vertical portions of said standards form tracks 45 between which an arched frame 46 (Figs. 1.5 to 19) is slidablyvmounted for vertical adjustment. rhis adjustment may Well be effected by means of gears 47 on a shaft 4S and in mesh With appropriate teeth on the side bars of the frame 46, said shaft 48 being carried by the tracks 45. Extending across the fra-me 46 is a horizontal rock shaft 49 which is provided With a maul carrying arm 50, the maul proper being designated at 51. A. cable 52 is trained `over a suitable sheave 53 carried by the frame and is Wound on a clutch controlled drum 54 which is mounted on the platform 42 and when said cable is Wound on the drum, the maul carrying arm 50 and the shaft 49 are turned to raise the former against the tension of an appropriate actuating spring 55. Then the maul is raised to the proper extent, the clutch 56 of the drum 54 is released, so that the spring 55 comes into play to actuate the maul head 51 for the purpose of driving a Wedge 51 into a horizontal block or log as vvill be clear by reference to Fig. 18. For the purpose of throwing the clutclr 56 in and out as required, novel provision is made.

A clutch controlling lever 57 is suitably mounted on the platform 42, one end of said lever having an appropriate ruiming connection With the movable member of the clutch 56 While the other end of said lever is provided With a suitable guide which is a vertical track receivable in the guide 58 and slidable Within said guide when the frame 46 is adjusted vertically. The oppo- Site side bar of the member 59 is provided With a fork 6l which is coeperable with a cam 62 carried by the rock shaft 49 as depicted clearly in Figs. 16, 1'7, 18 and 19.

rllhe member 59 is mounted on vertical trunnions 63 Which are shoivn passing through appropriate horizontal bars 64 Which are carried by the frame 46. fit thus l'ollovvs that as the arm 50 is moved to the limit by the cable 52, the cam 62 will rock the control member 59 on its pivot 63, so that the lever 57 is actuated to release the clutch 56, there* by throwing the drum 54 out of play and permitting the spring to actuate the maul. As soon as the maul lowers, the cam 62 turns the member 59 in the opposite direction, thereby throwing the clutch 56 in and starting'the drum 54, so that the cable 52 is again Wound to raise the maul.

When using the construction above described, it Will be observed that no matter to what extent the frame 56 is adjusted vertically, the member'59 Will at all times be operatively associated with the lever 5T, in vievv of the fact that its side bar or track 69 slides in the guide 58. It Will also be observed that the platform 42 and all parts carried thereby may be adjusted transversely of the frame F upon the tracks 41, so .that the Wedge 57 may be driven at any required point.

ln the present embodiment of my invention, I have shoivn the drum 54 loosely mounted on a shaft 65 which is mounted on the platform 42, said shaft being rotated by means of a Worm 66 and a worm gear 6T, the fermer being driven by an appropriate flexible shaft 68 from the motor E. The clutch 56 is slidably keyed on the shaft 65 and is thus continually driven, so that Whenever said clutch throivn into play, the drum 54 is turned to ivind ethe cable 52. rlille moment the clutch is thrown out however the drum 54 may spin idly on the shaft to permit the maul to be actuated by its spring 55.

When the blocks of Wood are to be split While standing on end, a different splitting mechanism is employed, as shown in Figs. 21 kto 25. rin arched frame 46L1 is adjustable vertically between the tracks 45 by means of the gear vvheels 47, and the side bars of said frame 46et act as guides for a vertical reciprocating maul 51a to which the cable 52 is connected. The maul 51a is raised by the cable 52 but drops by gravity onto a suitable Wedge or Wedges 57a, driven into the block as shown for instance in Figs. 21

and 22. in this form of the invention, an actuating member 59a is employed 'for the clutch controlling lever 57 above described, one side bar of said member being received in the guide 58 while its other side bar is connected by links TO with a pair ol' levers 7l which are mounted on one side ot' the iframe 46, in position to be struck by a pin or the like 72 on the niaul 5F. When the maui is raised sin'liciently by the cable the pin 'T2 strikes the upaermost lever 7l and turns the member 59 so that the clutch 56 is thrown out ot play, bnt when the maul falls by gravity and the pin 72 strikes the lowerniost oi the levers T1, the member 59 is rocked in the opposite direction so that the clutch and cable are again brought into use to raise said maul.

iVhen sawing down trees as shown in Fig. i3, the legs of the traine may be swung outwardly so as to lower the entire machine to cut close to the ground.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that l have provided a highly ellicient and desirable machine 'for sawing and splitting wood in a variety of ways, and since probably the best results may be obtained from the several Yfeatures shown and described, such l'eatures may be followed ,if desired. I wish it understood however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may well be made.

l claim:

l. wood working machine having a horizontal base trame adapted to normally rest on a log, normally idle log-engaging wheels .adapted to rest on a log and support said trame above the log while moving it along the same, and means for bringing said wheels into or out ot Contact with the log.

Q. A wood working machine having a horizontal base 'frame adapted to normally rest on a log, normally idle log-engaging wheels adapted to rest on a log and support said trame above the log while moving it along the saine, means for bringing said wheels into c ontact with the log and means ,for then pulling the frame along the log.

A wood working machine having a base frame adapted to normally rest on a log, slides movable transversely of said frame, normally idle log-engaging wheels carried by said slides and adapted to support said Yframe when moving it along a log, and means Afor moving said slides to bring said wheels into play.

il. A wood working machine having a base trame adapted to normally rest on a log, slides movable transversely of said trame, depending arms pivoted to said slides and adapted to straddle the upper portion of a log, log engaging wheels on the lower ends ot said arms, springs for swinging said arms inwardly into downwardly converging relation, and means tor moving said slides to dispose said arms vertically and raise the trame 'from the log.

A wood working machine having a base frame adapted to normally rest on a log, downwardly converging pivotally mounted arms depending from said trame and adaptcd to straddlethc upper portion ot the log, log-engaging wheels on the lower ends ot said arms, and means for moving the upper ends of said arms inwardly toward each other to swing said arms to vertical positions and raise the trame from the log.

(i. A wood work-ing machine having a base trame adapted to normally rest on a log, a pair of transverse bars slidably mounted on said traine, means 'for oppositely moving said base, a normally idle logengaging wheel on one end of each bar, and a log engaging hook on the other end ot each bar, the wheel and hook of each bai' being opposed to those of the other.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a horizontal base frame, a pair of vertical tracks hinged to the end ot said base trame and foldable onto the same, an arched .trame movable along said tracks, saw guidwheels mounted on said arched frame, a chain saw trained around said wheels, vertical and horizont-al stub shalts connected operatively with one ot said wheels, and means for driving either of said stub shafts according to the position of the aforesaid arched frame and tracks.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

y JAMES EDWlN ELDER.

lVitnesses E. R. FUNK,

L. W. BowLiis. 

